Aside from on-ice improvements last season, the Weyburn Red Wings also improved their financial performance.

The club's financial picture was revealed at their annual meeting, held Wednesday at the Legion Hall.

Despite being able to pay down team debts, Red Wing president Ken Kot said the club's future in Weyburn would have been in serious doubt had the Wings not advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

Because of the club's league championship run, the Red Wings made about $39,565.41 during the playoffs. Combined with the $38,550.48 loss incurred in the regular season, the club had an overall profit of $1,014.67.

Much of that loss was directly caused by the Health and Fitness Lottery, held jointly with the South Central Health District Foundation. It cost the Red Wings about $2,350 when club directors hoped the lottery would provide $27,000 in revenue. When combined with other fund-raising activities, this created a difference of about $35,000.

"We'll need a major fund-raiser for next year," said director Pat Maloney. "If we find a successful one, it will be what makes this club turn the corner."

Other clubs, such as Melville, Humboldt and Kindersley hold successful lotteries every year, selling about 3,500 tickets at $100 each. Those lotteries have prizes which are often targeted strictly for farming, such as offering combines as a prize. The fact the Red Wings were unable to sell out despite offering a $100,000 cash prize bewildered some directors.

When last year's executive took over, the club had accumulated a debt of $95,000 with accounts payable totaling another $39,000. Because of the club's playoff performance, all short-term accounts payable were paid. Only the $95,000 long-term-debt debt remains, and is scheduled to be paid off over 10 years. Maloney said the club had hoped to pay off the debts by the end of the regular season and put the playoff revenues into a war chest for next year.

"If we do as well next year as we did this year, we'll be OK," said Maloney.

With the financial restraints placed on the club, Maloney noted the players had "no frills this year."

Some of those extras may return with two equipment sponsorship deals the league has signed. The newest, with Sherwood-Droulet, will supply teams with sticks, gloves and pants at a discounted rate. The team will still be able to purchase equipment locally under this deal.

The 2000-2001 SJHL schedule has not been officially released yet as several teams, Weyburn and Estevan among them, have extended periods where the hockey clubs have to leave their arenas because other events are booked.

"Making this year's schedule has been a real challenge," said Red Wing coach Dwight McMillan.

The Red Wings are getting around this by scheduling one extended northern road trip and road games against South Division opponents.

Weyburn's portion of the schedule has been completed and will include 62 regular season games. The season begins on Saturday, Sept. 26 at home against the Yorkton Terriers. The season ends on the road in Estevan on March 3, 2001. One neutral site game will be played in Radville against Estevan on Monday, Jan. 1, 2001.

One area which has the fewest anticipated problems is in hockey operations. Next year's club is expected to have 15-16 returning veterans, all with playoff experience, with seven or eight quality players spotted in last week's spring camp in Regina.

Club general manager Ron Rumball expects the Red and White to invite about 60 players to training camp this year, down by 40 from last year as there are fewer spots to fill on the roster. One goaltender will have to be replaced, as Mark Taylor left to take a university scholarship in Vermont.

Aside from discussing the club's finances, the shareholders elected a new slate of 10 directors to one-and-two-year terms. This is an increase from last year's six-member board. Ken Kot and Pat Maloney returned to the executive for one year. The two-year directors are Orville Acton, Michell Giroux, Perry Nurse, Dean Ror, Kevin Ziolkowski, Arthur Charlton, Winston Bailey, and Marla St. Onge.